Congratulations!
You have accepted an important position in the structure of the NIRSA. You are to be commended for the professional commitment you have demonstrated by volunteering your time to act as a State/Provincial Director or Student Leader.
This page contains contact information, position descriptions, suggestions, and ideas to facilitate your success as a NIRSA State/Provincial Director or Student Leader. Feel free to use any and all of the information on this page…or come up with your own innovative ways to communicate with and motivate members in your state.
Thank you for your commitment and enthusiasm. Best wishes for a successful year!
Getting Started
If you haven’t completed and submitted the Position Acceptance Contract, then please do.
If you want to get the ball rolling, then try using the State/Provincial Director’s Check List for Getting Started. You can contact the Member Network Regional Representative or Student Leader with your questions at any time.
Position Description
NIRSA is a dynamic organization committed to be recognized internationally as the leader in recreation within higher education, dedicated to excellence in student and professional development, education, research and standards. NIRSA’s commitment, creativity and strategic partnerships are consistently demonstrated through outstanding programs, facilities and services.
As such, the leaders of the Association are expected to be knowledgeable about current issues in campus recreation and matters of the Association, as well as to be forward thinking team members.
All corporate powers of the Association shall be exercised by or under the authority of the board of directors and the affairs of the Association shall be managed under the direction of the board of directors.
The Member Network is the primary vehicle for communication, constituent representation, networking and student/professional development.
The State/Provincial Director will have the following duties and functions, but are not limited to:
- Acting as a liaison between the Regional Representative and state/provincial membership
- Acting as a liaison between the NHQ and the state/provincial membership and state association, if applicable
- Communicate regularly with state/provincial membership to gather information for the regional newsletter including o State/provincial events
- New member information
- Retirement, necrology, and other membership updates
- Facility renovation or construction information
- Institutional updates
- Position openings within the state/province
- Other information requested by the Regional Representative
- Communicate regularly with state/provincial membership to disperse information regarding Association business, events, and opportunities
- Serving as a voice for the state or provincial membership
- Assisting the Regional Representative with recommendations and recruitment for position appointments as requested
- Recruiting new NIRSA members within the state/province by communicating the benefits of NIRSA membership
- Collaborating with the NHQ to follow up with non-renewing members and institutional members within the state/province
- Assisting host institutions with conferences, workshops, state/province meetings and/or extramural competitions as needed
- Lead intentional outreach initiatives to non-member or inactive campus recreation departments or professionals within the state/province
- Facilitate a NIRSA 101 presentation at state/provincial meetings and/or extramural events
- Coordinate the state/provincial meeting at the NIRSA Annual Conference
- Promote state, provincial and regional social media accounts to state/province membership
- Acting as a mentor for the State/Provincial Student Leader
- Acting as an officer of the state association within those states that have a NIRSA recognized state association. Perform the duties specified within the constitution and bylaws of that state association
- Report semi-annually on progress of State/Provincial Director outreach and initiatives
- Perform other duties as requested by the Regional Representative
Last updated October 2018
Position Description
NIRSA is a dynamic organization committed to be recognized internationally as the leader in recreation within higher education, dedicated to excellence in student and professional development, education, research and standards. NIRSA’s commitment, creativity and strategic partnerships are consistently demonstrated through outstanding programs, facilities and services.
As such, the leaders of the Association are expected to be knowledgeable about current issues in campus recreation and matters of the Association, as well as to be forward thinking team members.
All corporate powers of the Association shall be exercised by or under the authority of the board of directors and the affairs of the Association shall be managed under the direction of the board of directors.
The Member Network is the primary vehicle for communication, constituent representation, networking and student/professional development.
The State/Provincial Student Leader will have the following duties and functions, but are not limited to:
- The State/Provincial Student Leader will act in consultation with the NIRSA Student Leader, Regional Student Leader, Regional Representative, and State/Provincial Director.
- Assist in the recruitment of new NIRSA student members within their state/province while advancing the role of NIRSA.
- Communicate with students within their state/province to find out current issues, news, trends, and events.
- Communicate with Regional Student Leader; including participation in all scheduled video or phone calls
- Assist the Regional Student Leader or Student Lead On Chair with planning the Student Lead On in their region (i.e. logistics, presentations, facilitating meetings, session monitor).
- If State/Provincial Student Leader is able to attend the Annual Conference, assist the Student Leadership Team in running the student information table.
- Represent the Regional Student Leader (RSL) at the State/Provincial Workshop if the RSL is unable to attend. Assist with the Regional Student Leaders presentation if the RSL is unable to attend.
- Facilitate a NIRSA 101 presentation at state/provincial meetings and/or extramural events
- Promote state/provincial and regional social media accounts to state/provincial membership
- Provide content to the State/Provincial Director for the semi-annual progress report
- If applicable: Perform tasks and duties set forth by the formal state associations including: manage student scholarship fundraising efforts, chair student committee, organize volunteers for state events
Term of Office:
The State/Provincial Student Leader is, based on state, provincial or regional guidelines, appointed by the Regional Student Leader, elected by the state/provincial student membership, or appointed by the State/Provincial Director, to serve students of their state/province for a period of one year.
Last updated Oct. 2018
Qualifications:
- Any NIRSA student member in good standing prior to election is eligible to serve as a State/Provincial Student Leader.
- Student must be in good academic standing as defined by their institution.
- Any student member may be nominated by another student member or may self-nominate.
- An elected individual is required to continue to be a student and a NIRSA student member throughout the term of office.
Communications guidelines
NIRSA email policy guidelines
NIRSA only uses member email addresses to communicate directly with its membership about NIRSA-related business through NIRSA Staff (e.g. Communications from Regional Representatives, State/Provincial Leaders, Championship Series event hosts, etc.) following these guidelines:
- Addresses will be used only for official NIRSA business.
- Address lists will not be sold or shared with other parties or members for any reason.
- Any form of commercial use is prohibited. A commercial email means any email that has as its exclusive or primary purpose the commercial advertisement or promotion of a commercial product or service.
- All addresses from the provided list must be included only in the Bcc: or Blind Copy address box to ensure that email addresses are not included in the actual email message.
- Address lists will be deleted and purged after NIRSA-related business is completed.
- Remember NIRSA Membership data changes regularly. Please use the most up to date membership list available.
All email messages MUST include the following text as a footer of the email message:
You are receiving this message as a service and benefit of your membership with NIRSA. You are not receiving this message because you are subscribed to an electronic list. Should this material not pertain to you, please forward it to the appropriate individual or excuse the update.
Membership list
Membership email lists are available for official NIRSA business. The NIRSA Member Network is provided with a current membership list monthly. To request a membership list for your state or province, please contact your Regional Representative.
Website
Connect with members and non-members in your state or province by reviewing and updating your Regional webpage. Here, you can highlight information, people and events in your state or province. Keep your site timely by sending updates to the NIRSA Member Engagement Manager, Natasha Fischer, and Cc: the appropriate Regional Representative.
Use of NIRSA logo
NIRSA Regional Representatives and State/Provincial Leaders are permitted to use the NIRSA name and/or logo within their newsletters. All NIRSA Logos can be downloaded from the NIRSA Logos & Graphics webpage.
Member retention & recruitment
NIRSA State/Provincial Directors work closely with the Member Network and NIRSA Staff to recruit new members and retain the current membership.
As the Member Network and NIRSA Staff launch recruitment and retention initiatives, you will be asked to serve as a facilitator by contacting specific members, promoting initiatives to members of your state or province, and communicating any member feedback to the Member Network or NIRSA Staff You may also be asked to serve as a consultant as recruitment initiatives are being developed.
Professional development
As a State/Provincial Leader, you will be involved in planning and executing your next meeting, workshop, Lead On or other event. Please include information about these opportunities in your communications to members in your area:
Are your events listed on the NIRSA Calendar? If you have an event that is not yet listed on the NIRSA calendar, please send the event information to the NIRSA Member Engagement Manager, Natasha Fischer.
Information collection
Retirement reports
Part of your role as a communication facilitator is to help the Association keep current on member retirement. Any NIRSA member that retirees in your state or province should be reported to your Regional Representative and to the Membership Coordinator at the NIRSA Headquarters for database maintenance and inclusion in the retirement report and Emeritus Member announcement at the Annual Conference. You can solicit this information in your newsletters and on your web page. Please submit any information that you receive to the NIRSA Membership Coordinator.
Necrology reports
Any NIRSA member deaths in your state or province should be reported to your Regional Representative and to the Membership Coordinator at the NHQ for database maintenance and inclusion in the Necrology Report at the Annual Business Meeting. Please submit any information that you receive to the NIRSA Membership Coordinator. Please solicit this information in your newsletter and website text. Be sure to include any appropriate photos and personal information that will help the Association to remember and honor the individual.
-
Natasha Fischer